Swiss Re plans 2 MW of solar at US headquarters

Armonk, NY
September 22nd, 2016

Swiss Re is planning to build and operate its own solar power plant at the company's U.S. headquarters in Armonk, N.Y.

Construction of the 2-MW facility, which will occupy about 10 acres of Swiss Re land, will begin in October, the reinsurance company announced Sept. 21. The project is being developed by EnterSolar and is expected to begin operations in late spring of 2017, generating 60% of the power required by the more than 700 employees working in Swiss Re's Armonk office.

"We're delighted to be taking this crucial step to make our operations in North America carbon-neutral in a way that also improves our bottom line. In the context of Swiss Re's extensive engagement in mitigating climate change, this is just another example of how we keep our commitments," Swiss Re Americas President and CEO Eric Smith said in a statement.

Swiss Re, which made the announcement to coincide with Climate Week NYC, said it "aims to lead by example and wants to contribute to a greater societal impact in addressing the issue of climate change." The company is a founding member of the RE100 initiative and currently obtains more than 85% of its power from renewable energy sources, according to the announcement.

Based in New York City, EnterSolar is a leading provider of solar photovoltaic systems to the commercial marketplace. Unique in our combination of business operations & solar expertise, we work with commercial enterprises to deliver optimal energy solutions with compelling, long-term return on investment.